Latest news with #AllHopeIsGone
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Scotsman
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Remembering Paul Gray: our experiences watching Slipknot to interviewing the late bassist
Celebrate the life of Paul Gray with our trip down memory lane - from Slipknot performing to interviewing the bassist. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This year marks the 15th anniversary of Slipknot bassist Paul Gray's death. The bass player was long considered by many fans as the heart of the band through his interactions with 'maggots.' Benjamin Jackson recalls his interview with the late band member, their discussion over a UK food staple and when he saw the band perform for the first time in 2000. There's a dark cloud hanging over the metal community today, as this weekend marks the 15th anniversary of the death of Slipknot bassist, Paul Gray. For many, the name immediately conjures images of the masked, enigmatic force that was Slipknot. Known to fans as #2 and Pig, Gray was much more than just the bassist; he was a founding member of the iconic Iowan metal band and a primary songwriter. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad His contributions were instrumental in shaping Slipknot's brutal yet melodic sound, helping to forge the unique blend of aggression and artistry that catapulted them to global superstardom. Culture and tickets writer Benjamin Jackson shared his experiences, both seeing Slipknot for the first time and interviewing the late bass player Paul Gray. | Getty Images/Canva Behind the terrifying masks and chaotic stage presence, Gray was often described by his bandmates as the heart of Slipknot, a pivotal creative and emotional anchor. His basslines laid the thunderous foundation for their intricate, nine-member sonic assault, underpinning some of the most influential metal anthems of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. His sudden passing on May 24 2010 left an irreplaceable void, not just within the band, but across the entire heavy metal community. In memory of the bassist, I wanted to share the duality of the performer (to use a Slipknot pun there) - the absolute terror that he and Slipknot were when I first saw the band live back in 2000, and then interviewing this warm, loving, genuinely caring individual before the band performed in New Zealand on their All Hope Is Gone tour. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The first time I saw Slipknot live - March 20 2000, Rock City, Nottingham At 16 years old, living in a small market town with a vibrant community of metallers, punks, and alternative music fans, the journey to Nottingham's Rock City was a pilgrimage. It was there I caught acts like Soulfly, Glassjaw, Hell Is For Heroes, and many others in my formative years. One band, however, filled me with slight trepidation: Slipknot, who had released their Roadrunner Records debut and started to elicit a moral panic about the 'stain' they might leave on the youth of the United Kingdom. You know, akin to the moral panic over Eminem performing in the UK. Kittie's Morgan Lander provided my first memorable moment of the show. Coming on stage to a chorus of misogynistic catcalls, the singer let out a deafening metal growl, telling those people to perform an act that biologically couldn't be performed. It set the tone for a no-nonsense evening of unadulterated metal mayhem. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Slipknot were incredible, as you would expect, and despite being thrown around the mosh pit that evening, I wasn't punched in the face by any member. That's not to say I didn't feel slightly concerned when the band started setting fire to their percussion rigs, cementing themselves as extreme, unpredictable, and a lot of fun. Slipknot set list - Rock City, Nottingham, March 20 2000 (sic) Eyeless Wait and Bleed Liberate Surfacing Purity Spit It Out Only One Get This Scissors Interviewing Paul Gray ahead of Slipknot's NZ shows - 2008 Being told I would be interviewing Paul was a slight relief, but the anxiety lingered; this was a band I knew could be quite volatile – at least, that's what the pages of rock magazines and websites frequently suggested. I was met with a softly spoken, attentive voice on the other end who wasn't just undertaking an interview. He genuinely sounded like he wanted to have a conversation, and even asked about myself, being a journalist, a metal fan, and what New Zealand was like – a complete opposite of the pig-masked maniac on stage. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad That was par for the course for Paul, though. The man would happily give up his bass guitar for a fan who explained they wanted to become a musician but couldn't afford the setup. He was the guy who, despite a commotion outside, would call me back asking if I had any other questions or wanted to talk more. The everlasting memory of the interview, as odd as it sounds, was the topic of a UK delicacy I longed for but could never get in New Zealand. Believe it or not, it was the humble Pot Noodle I was craving, but biosecurity laws in the country wouldn't allow it. Discussing the difficulty (for some reason) with Paul, I won't forget how adamant he was with me: 'Really? That's all you want? Did you want me to bring one over with us? Let me know, if you're coming to the show, and I will get you that… Pot Noodle was it?' I bonded with this man, who eight years earlier was on stage while all hell was breaking loose with fire and the carpeted area around the Rock City stage (at that time), over something many people turned their nose at. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But that was part of the reason the bassist was so beloved; he seemed like he would do anything for the fans, enjoyed conversing with people, and took an interest in their lives, rather than simply focusing on the PR message the band was trying to convey during interviews. Did you see Slipknot during their first UK tour, or have you previously had the chance to talk to Paul Gray before his death? Share your memories of the late, beloved bassist by leaving a comment below.
.png%3Fwidth%3D630%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75%26crop%3D3%3A2%2Csmart%26trim%3D&w=3840&q=100)
Scotsman
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Remembering Paul Gray: our experiences watching Slipknot to interviewing the late bassist
Celebrate the life of Paul Gray with our trip down memory lane - from Slipknot performing to interviewing the bassist. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This year marks the 15th anniversary of Slipknot bassist Paul Gray's death. The bass player was long considered by many fans as the heart of the band through his interactions with 'maggots.' Benjamin Jackson recalls his interview with the late band member, their discussion over a UK food staple and when he saw the band perform for the first time in 2000. There's a dark cloud hanging over the metal community today, as this weekend marks the 15th anniversary of the death of Slipknot bassist, Paul Gray. For many, the name immediately conjures images of the masked, enigmatic force that was Slipknot. Known to fans as #2 and Pig, Gray was much more than just the bassist; he was a founding member of the iconic Iowan metal band and a primary songwriter. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad His contributions were instrumental in shaping Slipknot's brutal yet melodic sound, helping to forge the unique blend of aggression and artistry that catapulted them to global superstardom. Culture and tickets writer Benjamin Jackson shared his experiences, both seeing Slipknot for the first time and interviewing the late bass player Paul Gray. | Getty Images/Canva Behind the terrifying masks and chaotic stage presence, Gray was often described by his bandmates as the heart of Slipknot, a pivotal creative and emotional anchor. His basslines laid the thunderous foundation for their intricate, nine-member sonic assault, underpinning some of the most influential metal anthems of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. His sudden passing on May 24 2010 left an irreplaceable void, not just within the band, but across the entire heavy metal community. In memory of the bassist, I wanted to share the duality of the performer (to use a Slipknot pun there) - the absolute terror that he and Slipknot were when I first saw the band live back in 2000, and then interviewing this warm, loving, genuinely caring individual before the band performed in New Zealand on their All Hope Is Gone tour. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The first time I saw Slipknot live - March 20 2000, Rock City, Nottingham At 16 years old, living in a small market town with a vibrant community of metallers, punks, and alternative music fans, the journey to Nottingham's Rock City was a pilgrimage. It was there I caught acts like Soulfly, Glassjaw, Hell Is For Heroes, and many others in my formative years. One band, however, filled me with slight trepidation: Slipknot, who had released their Roadrunner Records debut and started to elicit a moral panic about the 'stain' they might leave on the youth of the United Kingdom. You know, akin to the moral panic over Eminem performing in the UK. Kittie's Morgan Lander provided my first memorable moment of the show. Coming on stage to a chorus of misogynistic catcalls, the singer let out a deafening metal growl, telling those people to perform an act that biologically couldn't be performed. It set the tone for a no-nonsense evening of unadulterated metal mayhem. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Slipknot were incredible, as you would expect, and despite being thrown around the mosh pit that evening, I wasn't punched in the face by any member. That's not to say I didn't feel slightly concerned when the band started setting fire to their percussion rigs, cementing themselves as extreme, unpredictable, and a lot of fun. Slipknot set list - Rock City, Nottingham, March 20 2000 (sic) Eyeless Wait and Bleed Liberate Surfacing Purity Spit It Out Only One Get This Scissors Interviewing Paul Gray ahead of Slipknot's NZ shows - 2008 Being told I would be interviewing Paul was a slight relief, but the anxiety lingered; this was a band I knew could be quite volatile – at least, that's what the pages of rock magazines and websites frequently suggested. I was met with a softly spoken, attentive voice on the other end who wasn't just undertaking an interview. He genuinely sounded like he wanted to have a conversation, and even asked about myself, being a journalist, a metal fan, and what New Zealand was like – a complete opposite of the pig-masked maniac on stage. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad That was par for the course for Paul, though. The man would happily give up his bass guitar for a fan who explained they wanted to become a musician but couldn't afford the setup. He was the guy who, despite a commotion outside, would call me back asking if I had any other questions or wanted to talk more. The everlasting memory of the interview, as odd as it sounds, was the topic of a UK delicacy I longed for but could never get in New Zealand. Believe it or not, it was the humble Pot Noodle I was craving, but biosecurity laws in the country wouldn't allow it. Discussing the difficulty (for some reason) with Paul, I won't forget how adamant he was with me: 'Really? That's all you want? Did you want me to bring one over with us? Let me know, if you're coming to the show, and I will get you that… Pot Noodle was it?' I bonded with this man, who eight years earlier was on stage while all hell was breaking loose with fire and the carpeted area around the Rock City stage (at that time), over something many people turned their nose at. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But that was part of the reason the bassist was so beloved; he seemed like he would do anything for the fans, enjoyed conversing with people, and took an interest in their lives, rather than simply focusing on the PR message the band was trying to convey during interviews.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Slipknot Perform 'Gematria (The Killing Name),' Song Corey Taylor Thought They'd Never Play Live: Watch
The post Slipknot Perform 'Gematria (The Killing Name),' Song Corey Taylor Thought They'd Never Play Live: Watch appeared first on Consequence. Slipknot finally performed the song 'Gematria (The Killing Name)' on Friday night (February 28th) at the kickoff of their Knotfest Australia mini-tour in Melbourne. The track from 2008's All Hope Is Gone is one that frontman Corey Taylor previously believed the band would 'never play' live. 'Gematria (The Killing Name)' was the third song of the set, following favorites '(sic)' and 'People = Shit.' Overall, Slipknot played 14 songs, with 'Psychosocial' being the only other tune represented from All Hope Is Gone. In 2023, during an interview with the All Things Music podcast (as transcribed by Revolver), Taylor explained that if it were up to him, the band would've already performed 'Gematria (The Killing Name),' but that his bandmates weren't too keen on playing the song. 'I've always wanted to open a concert with 'Gematria,'' he explained. 'There are certain odiums around the way that that song was created and recorded, which is why some of the guys in the band are like, 'Fuck that, we'll never play it.'' He continued, '[The reason] isn't even sentimental…It's resentment. But for me, man, it's such a fucking burner that I just love that song. I can listen to that shit all fucking day. It just comes screaming out of no-fucking-where. But it'll never happen. Unless the Pope ends up opening up for Slipknot someday, that shit will never happen.' Slipknot have three more Australia shows and one New Zealand date coming up, followed by a run of European festivals in June (pick up tickets here). As of now, their only North American show of 2025 is slated for July 19th at the Inkcarceration Festival in Mansfield, Ohio. Watch Slipknot give 'Gematria (The Killing Name)' its live debut in Melbourne, Australia below. Enjoy Slipknot's All Hope Is Gone and more on Amazon Music Unlimited, which is currently offering a four month subscription at 50% off its normal price. More details here. Slipknot Perform 'Gematria (The Killing Name),' Song Corey Taylor Thought They'd Never Play Live: Watch Spencer Kaufman Popular Posts Tony Hawk Wishes Kurt Cobain Could Meet Their Shared Grandson Michelle Trachtenberg Dead at 39 Gene Hackman and Wife's Deaths Ruled "Suspicious" as Investigators Find No Signs of Gas Leak J6 Prison Choir to Perform at Kennedy Center The 69 Sexiest Film Scenes of All Time Wu-Tang Clan Announce Final Tour with Run the Jewels as Special Guest Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
